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World Bank leads in funding Indian dam projects

DRIP development extended by two years

World Bank loans continue to lead in financing India’s mega water projects such as the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), according to information released by Public Information Bureau.

A World Bank loan is being sought for rehabilitation and improvement of about 223 dams in seven States (namely Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand) and Institutional Strengthening of Central Water Commission (CWC) and other Implementing Agencies.

DRIP’s completion date has been extended by two years to 30 June 2020. It was to be originally implemented over a period of six-years starting from 18 April 2012, according to Ministry of Water Resources.

National Hydrology Project (NHP) has been taken up also with the assistance of World Bank with total outlay of Rs.3,679.7674 crore.

NHP is a Central Sector Scheme, with 100% grant to the States with World Bank Assistance to the tune of 50% of the project cost.

It has pan-India coverage with 49 Implementing Agencies (IAs) (including 10 from Central Government and 39 from States).

The project has a total duration of eight years from 2016-17 to 2023-24.

The project is to improve the extent, quality, and accessibility of water resources information, decision support system for floods and basin level resource assessment/planning and to strengthen the capacity of targeted water resources professionals and management institutions in India.

Various Statutory Clearances have been obtained for KBLP Phase-I and the project report is ready for implementation.

Elsewhere, water use efficiency is being improved. During 2016-17, 21 Baseline Studies and during 2017-18, five baseline studies for improving water use efficiency for irrigation projects have been taken up in Major/Medium Irrigation projects located in Assam, Manipur, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra.

Other developments during 2017 included a memorandum of understanding between India and the Netherlands which was signed on 27 June.

It is for cooperation in the field of Water Management by collaborating and sharing of experience and expertise in the areas mutually agreed upon, including technique in river basin management planning/ integrated water resources management, pollution abatement for river including river Ganga, decision support systems, delta management-water safety including flood management along rivers, water management, water quality issues and waste water recycling, and re-use through innovative concession arrangement.

The programme named National Aquifer Management (NAQUIM) for mapping of water bearing aquifers has been planned with an aim to enhance the capacity of states in Ground Water Management and Development.

Total targeted area for National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme was 8.89 lakh sq. km including 5.25 lakh sq.km prioritized area (during 2012-17) against 24 Lakh Sq. km area identified for mapping in the country.

By the end of March 2017, aquifer maps and management plans were developed for an area of 6.31 lakh Sq. km. During April 2017 to October 2017, an additional area of 1.38 lakh Sq. km has been covered under aquifer mapping and management plan taking the total coverage to 7.69 lakh Sq. km, which is shared/would be shared with the respective State Governments agencies. fii-news.com